Folding or knockdown crate



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. D. HOBBIE FOLDING 0R KNOGKDOWN CRATE. No. 398,727. Patented Feb. 26,1889.

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A. D. HOBBIE. FOLDING 011 KNOOKDOWN CRATE.

Patented Feb. 26

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3 Sheets-Sheet 3; A. D. HOBBIE;

FOLDING 0R KNOOKDOWN'GRATE.

No. 398,727. Patented Feb. 26, 1889.

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" respectively, of one of the side pieces.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALONZO D. HOBBIE, OF BERGEN POINT, NE" JERSEY.

FOLDING OR KNOCKDOWN CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,727, dated February26, 1889.

Application filed August 2, 1888.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALONZO D. HOBBIE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bergen Point, in the county of Hudson and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding orKnockdown Crates, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to an improvement in knockdown or folding crates,by which is understood crates, boxes, or the like, which are capable ofbeing reduced in their cubicmeasuremcnt for the purpose of reducingtheir bulk and consequent expense in shipment, &c. For a simi larpurpose crates have been constructed so as to permit the completeseparation of the parts, as well as such a disposition of several partsas to permit their being folded together, so as to allow the sides, top,and bottom to be folded inwardly. \Vhile such constructions are found inmany respects to be eiticacious, there is a decided objection in thematter of economy, and it is to overcome this objection that myil'ivention is particularly directed, although a further purpose of myinvention is to produce a crate of this nature which shall possess thelargest amount of strength and durability, combined with a capacity forbeing readily folded and set up.

To this end my invention consists, substantially, in the details ofconstruction and combination of parts, hereinafter more clearly pointedout and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents my in'lproved crate folded readyfor shipment empty. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing my improvedcrate open, but without the side and end pieces. Fig. 3 is averticalcross-see tion viewed in the direction of the arrow :13, Fig. 2. Fig. 4.is a vertical cross-section viewed in the direction of the arrow y, Fig.2. Fig. 5 is a broken perspective view of a crate with one side and oneend piece applied; and Figs. 0 and 7, aview in elevation andcross-section,

While the drawings illustrate my invention as having solid sides, ends,top, and bottom, it will be clear that these may be slatted insteadwithout departing from the invention.

A is the frame-work of the top of the crate, and B is the frame-work ofthe bottom. To the framework A is secured by hinges t the Serial No.281,725. (No model.)

permanent cover C. which may also be provided with the spring-catch t,to engage the pin on the frame-work in the common manner. It maybedesirable to apply braces to the under side of the top, as shown in Fig.2, to confer additional strength. The f rame-work B has secured to itthe permanent bottom I), which may be nailed or otherwise securedthereto. The end pieces, A, of the top frame, A, are provided withlongitlulinal slots 8, leading from near the outer corners to near themid die of the end pieces, as shown, and the end pieces, l), of thebottom frame, 13, are pro vided with-similar slots, 1'. Cross-armsformiug braces E are pivoted at their center q, and their ends arecaused to engage in the slots 1' s by means of pins provided with buttons p. It will thus be seen that by spreading the arms E the frames Aand 13 may be drawn together until the lugs on the pivoted arms reachthe outermost limits of the slots s and I, respectively, when the frameswill come together, while an opposite motion of the pivoted levers willseparate the frames, and by reason of the nearly perpendicular lineassumed by the arms E when the ln 1) are at the innermost ends of theslots sand r, respectively, a firm brace is provided to maintain theupper and lower frames at the proper distance from each other. The lowerframe may also be provided with the spring-catch 0, to engage the pin 0on the upper frame and serve to keep the frames in contact when thecrate is closed. A similar spring catch and lug maybe provided on theinterior of the forward part of the frame, if desired. Additionalstrength maybe obtained by providing the cross-braces n on the bottomand cornerbraces m, as shown in Fig. 2. A desirable feature of thesecorner-braces is that they project above the top of the lower frame, B,and serve as strengtheners of the upper frame, A, when the crate isfolded, as well as supports and braces for the sides and end pieces whenset up. Braces a may be provided on the outside on either or both of theupper and lower frames, which, besides serving to strengthen the frame,provides a guard for the buttons 7.

The sides and end pieces of the box or crate maybe in the form ofseparate pieces entirely detachable from the frames. In this case theyare provided with indentations 'Z on their exterior, to enable them toengage with the pins Z, provided on the interior of the side and endpieces of the frames A and B. \Vhen thus constructed, the end and sidepieces are withdrawn from the frame and laid one on another on thebottom when the crate is folded. These side and end pieces are engagedwith the pins by inserting at an angle of about fortyfive degrees theirlower ends behind the braces 01, so that the pins may enter theindentations or openings Z, and thereafter said side and end pieces areraised "upright into position.

To operate the crate when in the folded position shown in Fig.1, the lidis raised and the cross-arms E are brought toward a vertical position,separating the frames. Thereupon the side and end pieces are applied sothat the indentations therein will engage the lugs Z, and the device isthen set up ready for use for transporting berries or other contents.Vhen empty, the side and end pieces are removed and laid 'or folded inthe bottom or top, and the pivoted arms E are separated so as toapproach a horizontal position, bringing ihe upper and lower framestogether until the spring-catches 0 engage the pins 0, when the crateoccupies the smallest possible cubic space.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A folding crate comprising separate upper and lower frames heldtogether by pivoted braces engaging slots in the frames, side and endpieces having indentations, and pins on the inner side of the top andbottom frames to engage the indentations in the side and end pieces,substantially as described.

2. A folding crate comprising top and bottom frames, A and B, pivotedbraces E, engaging slots in the top and bottom frames, folding side andend pieces, and spring-catch 0 on one frame and pin 0 011 the otherframe, whereby when the crate is folded the frames will be kepttogether, substantially as described.

3. A folding crate or box comprising separate upper and lower frameshaving slots in their opposite ends, cross-b races centrally pivoted toeach other and engaging at their ends the slots in the frames andserving, when in their extended or vertical position, to main-\Vitnesses:

DE WITT VAN BUSKIRK, DANIEL J. MURRAY.

